What is OnlyFans, “the Instagram of porn” which is a hit with young people?

• Nicknamed the "Instagram of porn", OnlyFans has become this summer the fashionable social network among stars and influencers.
• American actress Bella Thorne has reportedly earned over $ 1 million in just 24 hours posting exclusive photos of her private life.
• The regulation of this social network, very liberal on sexually explicit content, has made it the new El Dorado for sex workers on the Internet.

A million dollars in 24 hours… This is the sum that actress Bella Thorne won thanks to the social network OnlyFans. A record never before reached on this site often presented as the “Instagram of porn”, which the former Disney star would have broken by simply sharing exclusive videos and photos of his private life. Already used by many stars and influencers like the rapper Cardi B, this sulphurous British site continues to react on social networks because of its blurred borders with online prostitution.

Launched in 2016 in the UK, OnlyFans describes itself as “a subscription site that allows content creators to monetize their influence”. The business model is relatively simple: “fans” subscribe to “creator” accounts to access their exclusive photos and videos and have the option of sending them a private message. It costs between $ 4.99 and $ 49.99 per month to subscribe to an account. But what sets OnlyFans apart from other social networks is that the platform doesn't ban nudity.

Please join us in giving a big OnlyFans welcome to Hollywood star, Award Winning Actress, Director & Best Selling Author @bellathorne. The fabulous Bella is connecting with fans & sharing exclusive insights into her exciting life. Head over to meet her at: https://t.co/JiCKp4ewFA pic.twitter.com/T4NVU2wwzd

Nearly 25 million users worldwide

The social network now claims more than 25 million Internet users around the world, and 350,000 creators to follow. The site, which currently has no app, has grown in popularity since the lockdown. "Registrations would have jumped 75% in March," say platform officials. These are stars like Clara Morgane, Cardi B, Blac Chyna or Bella Thorne, and major influencers who have popularized the social network in recent months.

“At first, I was closed to the idea of ​​signing up. I was afraid for my image. But I started and it liked right away, it took instantly. Since then, I've only done that, ”says Clément Castelli, 26, who has participated in several reality TV shows, including  Les Marseillais South Africa . The influencer Polska has also launched on the platform. She aroused many reactions on social networks by announcing last August 10 that she won the tidy sum of 10,000 euros per month by selling her photos on OnlyFans. Enough to arouse vocations among Internet users ...

I'm a +10 thank you only fan 🥰 pic.twitter.com/rzahw1Flwi

From "nudes" ... to pornography

Even if the social network is not officially "classified X", its ability to deflect censorship and monetize intimate content has today made its reputation. Most of the creators on OnlyFans sell mostly sexy photos and videos, or even pornographic content. Lots of average designers post their “nudes” there to make some money without too much effort. This is particularly the case for the younger generation, already familiar with sending “nudes” on Snapchat or showing off in swimsuits on Instagram.

But during containment, the platform took on another dimension with the arrival of many sex workers, who migrated online to ensure their income. The confined actors and actresses opened accounts to ensure financial returns during the crisis, by filming videos or doing photoshoots at home. This is the case of Mistress Evilyne, "a dominatrix" who had a small success on the platform for adults. According to her, "an account on this service can easily bring in up to 900 euros per month", income often supplemented by content on other sites, such as Clips4Sale or iWantClips.

"The regulation of this social network, very liberal on sexually explicit content, has made it the new El Dorado for sex workers on the Internet", explains Fred Pailler, sociologist and researcher in information and communication sciences. Much has been done between the naughty messages of the pink Minitel of the 80s, and the subscription to an OnlyFans account. "The culmination of a platform like OnlyFans is a long process, notably coming from the transformation of pornography with the advent of the Internet in the 90s", specifies the sociologist.

Child pornography content?

The social network is now facing a lot of criticism. Not everyone welcomes the burgeoning success of this platform. Accused by many of "popularizing" pornography among young people, the site is also singled out for promoting child pornography. If the conditions of use and access state that you must be 18 years or older, several investigations have shown that minors were present on the platform, as revealed by a BBC investigation last May.

Faced with these accusations, OnlyFans would now like to become more “professional” and in particular improve the measures to verify the age of users. Currently, the site is asking for a double age verification by requesting a photo ID, as well as a scan of the ID card. But to believe some Internet users, this measure would be very easy to circumvent ...

People

Bella Thorne Raises $ 1 Million In 24 Hours Thanks To OnlyFans

Society

Coronavirus: With confinement, the activity of camgirls explodes (but under what conditions?)

• Internet users
• By the Web
• Social networks
• Instagram
• Stars
• Nudity
• Photo
• Platform
• Porn